Bison Out-Distance Mastodons 2-1 in Eight Innings

Saturday, March 31

Fargo, N.D.

1:00 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

25-9, 0

North Dakota State

24-12, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
IPFW	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	0
North Dakota State	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	7	3

Photo by: Lucas Carter

Bison Out-Distance Mastodons 2-1 in Eight Innings

3/31/2012 3:42:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BOX SCORE

FARGO, N.D. - IPFW freshman outfielder Mackenzie Ritsema hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to send the game to extra innings; however, back-to-back hits for NDSU in the bottom of the eighth gave the hosts the 2-1 victory in the rubber-match of the weekend series.

IPFW falls to 25-9 on the season and 8-4 in the Summit League, while NDSU improves to 24-12, and 8-1 in League play.

NDSU opened and closed the scoring in the game, the first run coming in the bottom of the first frame when Taylor Mortensen walked, was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a single by Katie Tamayo, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead.

That lead would hold up until the top of the seventh inning when Ritsema, who came up second in the frame, took a full-count pitch over the center field wall, knotting the score at one run apiece. The 'Dons continued to put on pressure, loading the bases with two-outs, but a foul-out to the NDSU first baseman ended the threat.

Each side traded a scoreless inning before NDSU freshman catcher Amanda Grable doubled into right-center, and then scored on a single to right-center by Cristina Borek, giving the Bison the 2-1 victory.

IPFW had just four hits on the day, one each by Alex Bousquet, Dani Pugh, Ritsema, and Kayti Hanson, while the team's lone run and RBI was driven in by Ritsema.

Courtney Cronin picked up a no-decision in the circle, pitching the first four and a third inning, striking out one and walking two, while scattering four hits and allowing a run. Miranda Kramer was tabbed with the loss in relief, falling to 5-3 on the season as she struck out three and gave up three hits in two and two-thirds innings of work.

After coming back to Fort Wayne, the Mastodons take to the road once again with an April 5 doubleheader at the University of Detroit starting at 2 p.m.

~ Feel the Rumble ~